Customising denim is so much fun. We went to a thrift store and bought a pile of jeans to play around with. This made the whole exercise affordable and we weren’t too worried about the outcome – and we can always use the scraps for sewing bags and making softies.

Tips for Cutting Off Your Jeans
1. Cut them longer than you want them and then cut them inch by inch to the length you want them.
2. Always cut the bottom edge on an angle the same as the jeans are. They don’t go straight, they are longer on the inner seam and shorter on the outer seam. This will mean that your shorts sit well, especially if they are really short, they won’t ride up your butt.
3. Not only for summer time of course. If Kate Moss can wear leggins under her shorts then why not try it in winter too??

Tips for Bleaching Jeans
1. Fill the washing machine with cold water then add a bottle of bleach to it, then add the jeans. If you put the jeans in first the first place the bleach touches will be the lightest.
2. Soak the jeans for a long time if you want them quite pale.
3. When you have washed them, wash them again with washing liquid to get out the bleach.
4. After using the machine, run it again with only whites in it to get rid of the excess bleach.
5. Don’t just use the machine for bleaching. Also use a spray bottle for a splatter effect, eyedropper for blobs that look really great, a sponge, anything you like. Just don’t leave pure bleach on them for more than a few minutes.

Tips for Shredding Denim
1. Bleaching helps to weaken the fibres and makes the jeans easier to shred.
2. Take the jeans and use a cheese grater to shred them. Rub the grater back and forth until the jeans start to shred.
3. Mark out where you want the shreds to be before you do them. Shreds always look better (and non-skanky) on the front not the back of the jeans.
4. You can also try using a very rough sandpaper on the jeans to shred them.

Tips for Adding Studs to Jeans
1. Buy the studs and the tool at a leather shop. I looked everywhere for them and this was the only place I could source them.
2. You will need a hammer and a hard surface. It doesn’t work doing it on the living room carpet – concrete is best.
3. Watch out for your fingers!!!
4. Mark where you want the studs before you add them to the jeans. Make sure they are evenly spaced on the jeans, then start to bang them in.
5. It takes quite a long time to bang in the studs.

Other Stuff to Do To Jeans
1. Die them a wild colour before shredding them.
2. Add fantastic patches made from vintage fabrics to them.
3. Screenprint writing onto your jeans. Scrunch the fabric and screenprint onto it. This makes a really amazing effect.
4. Splatter them with white or any other coloured paint.

Best of all, make a day of it with your girlfriends!
Mia
xxx

Sunday posts are not common around here. Sunday mornings are spent at the beach and afternoons outside too. But I just had to share the tutorial I have been promising (and the only thing I have completed on my to-do list in the past week).

This gorgeous and super easy wreath took me well under an hour to whip up (because I had a lot of felted scraps left from the last few years of making anything and everything into felt).

The first thing you need to know is how to make the felt. It is beyond easy. Throw two woollen sweaters into the washing machine. Make the hot and the rince cold. You will probably need to wash them a few times until all the stitches have merged with each other to make a material that you can cut without it all falling apart. I usually throw in a few pairs of jeans also to create more friction in the wash….

When you have felted two sweaters you will have enough to make this wreath…

Materials
Machine Felted Sweaters
Dressmaking Scissors
50cm/20″ length of 16 gauge wire
Wire Cutters
Pliers
Ribbon
Tiger Tail or String

Step 1
Cut your pieces of felt into squares about 5cm/2″ x 5cm”/2″. They don’t need to be completely perfect.

Step 2
Cut your length of wire (I cut about 50cm)
Take your felt squares and poke them onto the wire

I poked the felt squares onto both ends of the wire to make the pattern a little more uniform. You could also do it randomly.

Step 3
When you are nearing the end of the wire, take the pliers, bunch up the felt and bend each end into a U shape.

And everywhere I am… Sweet Calvin is there. Unfortunately he has an eating disorder and tries to eat anything I am working with – ribbons, wire, fabric, wool, he’s not fussy.

Step 4
Take the two u-shape wire ends and link them together. Take the pliers and push the ends down so they won’t come apart.

Step 5
Tie a bow onto the place where the wire is joined.

Step 6
Tie a length of Tiger Tail or String onto the top of the wreath to hang it from.

A Finished Wreath.

Enjoy!
Mia
xxx

Materials
Pattern for Bird, Wings
Paper Scraps or Pieces
Sewing Machine with Heavy Duty Needle
Thread
Buttons
Ribbon Scraps
Scissors
Glue
Lollies!

Step 1
Cut out 50 bird pieces (make sure that you cut 25 one way and 25 going the other way) and 25 wings

Step 2
Cut 25 x 10cm/4″ ribbon lengths

Step 3
Cut out 25 orange beaks and assemble the birds, wings, ribbons, beaks and lollies so they are ready to sew.

Step 4
Take two bodies, tuck a beak in between the two sheets at the same height as the point of the tale. Fold a length of ribbon in half and tuck it in between the two sheets on the top of the bird’s head.
Sew the bird together, tucking a lolly inside before you finish.

Step 5
Glue a button onto the bird. Glue a wing onto the body.

Step 6
Take a black marker and write numbers 1 – 25 on the wings or you can use stickers, if you like.

Hang up your birds on a string or on the tree. All ready for 1 December.
Sorry I don’t have a pattern for the birds or wings but they are really easy to draw freehand or google one.
Enjoy!
Mia
xxx

I had a spare few hours in front of the tv last night and a new camera to play with. I am in love with my new Canon EOS 500D. It was impossible not to fall in love with! So I whipped up a quick shredded tshirt and tutorial to go with it. Shredding is so easy and reminded me so much of high school, sitting on the bus shredding my new tan stockings – the more shredded your stockings were, the better back then. Well, I still love the shredded effect.

I am obsessed with torturing textiles, i.e doing things with them to make them different. One day soon I will post more textiles treatments (or maybe save them for a lovely little book). I just love taking fabric and playing with it. There is so much you can do to it, paint it, dye it, crush it, fold it, pleat it, shred it. If only I could spend all my time just playing….

All you need to shred is a knit tee. I suppose you could shred a skirt (if you have a slip to wear under it) or a jumper, but I like the look of a tee. Next, I am going to try shredding an oversized white tee. For shredding it’s best to use a new tee so that the stitches aren’t compacted together from washing.

Step 1
Take your stitch ripper and undo the bottom hem of the tee so that it is a raw edge.

Step 2
You will notice some loose threads running parallel along the edge of tee. Pull one of these threads. Keep pulling for as long as you would like the shredded panel to be. Then start separating the stitches of the tee between your thumbs and fingers, pulling the stitches wider. This is a bit fiddly. It is easiest to shred inch-long sections of the tee. Work from the bottom to the top of the tee, separating the stitches. You can make all different sized holes. My fingers got a little bit sore doing this. Work your way one inch at a time, pulling apart the stitches until you have a panel as wide as you want. Oh yeah, before I began I make two marks with tailor’s chalk on the bottom of the shirt to mark the size of the panel I wanted.

Ta Da! Here is the finished product. It took me about two hours in front of the TV to shred this. As you are doing it, it is easy to make holes. It just seems to add to the whole torn effect that I love!
I hope you have fun shredding!
Let me know…
Mia
xxx

Hi ya crafty chicas,
I am re-posting a pdf pattern and a tutorial that Emma and I made and have been selling, to make a very sassy little thong.

This is for everyone to enjoy!

Have fun!
Mia
xxxx

To begin sewing,   download this PDF pattern (contains two pages) and print it out.  Now, To check that you have printed the pattern at the correct size please measure the following – where it says ‘bottom’ on both the front and the lining pieces this should measure 3cm and on the back piece from letters C to D should measure 9.4cm.  If these 3 measurements are correct you can make a start!  If not you may need a photocopier.

Materials

• Sewing Machine with stretch needle

• 1.3 metres (52 inches) of 10mm (0.4”) wide underwear elastic

• 30cm (12 inches) swimsuit lining (100% polyester). When buying this material make sure that 4cm (1 ½”) stretches to 10cm (4”) on a flat surface. Any less and the panties will not stretch enough to cover your booty, any more and they will sag.

• 30cm (12 inches) t-shirt material with very little stretch. Scraps are ideal for this.

• Cotton thread (same colour as elastic)

• Optional: Trim (lace, braid…), button, 15cm (6”) ribbon for a bow, needle for hand sewing

Instructions

Note: 15mm (5/8 inch) seam allowance has been included in this pattern.

1. Pin the pattern to the fabric and cut out 1 front in t-shirt material, 1 lining in t-shirt material, 2 backs in the lining fabric, 2×30cm (12 inches) lengths of elastic (for legs) and 1x 70cm length of elastic (for waist).
2. Pin and sew trim onto thong front (shown on pattern).
3. Pin thong lining onto back of thong front (wrong sides facing). Use a zigzag stitch to sew the sides together, leaving the top and bottom open.
4. Pin and sew the two short lengths of elastic onto the front legs of the thong using an elastic stitch (looks like a broken zigzag stitch).
5. Place two thong backs on top of each other with letters matching (right sides facing). Sew from A to B using an elastic stitch. Sew from F to E using an elastic stitch.
6. Keeping right sides together, slide fabric and reposition it so points B and E are on top of each other (seams will be positioned on top of each other). Stitch along top edge (longest edge) of fabric with an elastic stitch joining the 2 layers together (C & D will be together at the ends). Now you have sewn the back thong piece, turn it in inside out.
7. Pin & sew front and back thong pieces together at sides and bottom (right sides together) using a straight stitch. Ease fabric to ensure it matches up perfectly. Cut away excess fabric, fold all fabric towards back and use a zigzag stitch to flatten/neaten seam.
8. Now your thong is sewn together, turn it right side out.
9. Sew the long piece of elastic together into a loop.  Pin & sew elastic onto top edge of thong using an elastic stitch.  Ease as needed.

How did yours turn out? Please let us know

(NOTE:  This scarf requires absolutely no knitting or crocheting or knotting so stay around and read more…)

(Mia modelling the tube scarf)

I walked into my local craft store a few weeks ago and saw these divine scarves behind the counter.  They looked like a cross between a feather boa and a scarf, totally cute.  I asked the lady how they were made and she was kind enough to give me a demo on how to make them. Now I am passing on the love….

I am hooked!  These are the cutest scarves and they could not be easier to make. My nine-year old made half of this one easily.

Materials
I used four balls of polyester (this will depend on how long you want to make the scarf)
1.2m of 5/8″ white elastic
30cm/ 1ft length of plastic tubing
Two medium wooden beads
Hot glue
Scissors

Tie a knot in one end of the piece of elastic. Apply a dab of hot glue onto the knot and push it onto the bead.

Use two balls of yarn together – this gives a fuller look to the scarf. Tie the two ends of the yarn onto the elastic with a knot, just under the bead.
Thread the elastic through the plastic tube, with the bead at one end.
Begin wrapping the yarn (two together) around the plastic tubing.  (I started by wrapping the yarn this tightly but found it much better to wrap it quite loosely going down the whole tube).
When you have wrapped the yarn around the plastic tube about ten time push it off the tube and onto the elastic.

To keep the other end of elastic from getting in the way, secure it with a peg as shown in the photo above, letting out more as you need it.

Continue to wrap the yarns around the plastic tubing and then gently push them onto the elastic. You will quickly start to see this yummy, feather boa scarf!

Finish the scarf when you get to the elastic gets to the end of the plastic tubing (you will have 30cm of elastic left when you cut it). Knot the yarn around the elastic. Tie a knot in the elastic (as in the first step), place a dab of glue onto the knot and push a bead onto it to secure it.

Finito!

(Look what I made!)

The next one I will make will be double as long so that I can wrap it around my neck a few times. Millie’s getting this one – lucky girl. And the last thing I have to say — what a strange thing to be making in 40 degree heat!! And that photo shoot with the turtle neck! Hot!
Enjoy!

I started concocting perfumes and potions as a five year old. My twin sister and I would lock ourselves away in the bathroom and mix anything (usually mum’s expensive perfumes) we could find. Most of the concoctions would cause me to have an immediate allergic reaction, so would end in tears. But, this did not deter me.

I still love making lotions and potions. These bath bombs are the fizziest bombs I have ever made. They explode and keep fizzing for ages, then make the whole bath smell divine. The oil leaves your skin soft and smelling like lavender.

These bath bombs make great presents and are easy enough for beginners and children to make.

Ingredients
1 cup tartaric acid
1 cup bicarbonate soda
½ cup powdered starch
1 dessertspoon lavender oil
2 tablespoons dried lavender.
1 teaspoon pink food colouring
7 dessertspoons avocado oil
2 dessertspoons dried lavender.

Mix tartaric acid, bicarbonate soda and starch in a bowl.

Add the lavender and food colouring to the mixture.

Add a dessertspoon of lavender oil. Slowly add the avocado oil (be careful not to add too much).
Mix the ingredients together until you can form the mixture into balls, adding a touch more avocado oil, if needed.

Take a small handful of mixture and place it on a desert spoon. Mould it on the spoon and place it on a tray. Repeat this until you have used all the mixture.

Leave the bath bombs in a dry, warm place to set for between a few days to 1 week (drying time will depend on air temperature and humidity).
Add a few to a bath or package and give them away as a present.

I hope you enjoy making these as much as we did!!
Mia
xxx

Long hot days of summer give us plenty of time to become fairies playing in the garden or princesses wearing long white dresses and beautiful blue flower crowns….

This crown was very quick to assemble. It took no more than half an hour and now I have a little girl who is completely in love with it. She has gone to bed and put it in the ‘most special place’ in her room, on the top shelf far from her kitten’s paws.

Materials
Small fabric flowers bought at a craft store
Silver-coated wire (22 guage)
Wire cutters
Flat-nosed pliers

Firstly, wrap the wire around the top of your head so that it is a loose fit. Hold the wire and cut three times this length. Wrap the last length of wire around the other two to keep it in place.

Take a fabric flower and wrap the stem around the wire base. If the stem is too long, cut it in half with the wire cutters.

Place the flowers close to each other and wrap the stems around the wire base. Alternate the flowers you use or use all the same flowers.

Continue to wrap the flowers until you are finished. You could also embellish your crown with rafia, ribbon, beads, diamontes, whatever you like. I prefer to keep mine simple and lovely enough for a big or little princess.

Enjoy!
Mia

Hi Everyone,

Yes we are back! And off to a VERY pink start – with these cupcakes. If you find the pink a little too sickly sweet, don’t be put off – they are very yummy!

And we are so thrilled. Our comments are back up and working so please say hi – we have missed you so much!

Let’s Cook

How to Make Mini Cupcakes with Butter Cream Frosting

Ingredients

1 ½ cups Self-Raising Flour
125g / 4½ oz unsalted butter (softened)
¾ cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 eggs beaten
½ cup milk

Method

1. Sift the Self-Raising flour into a mixing bowl and add the caster sugar. Add the vanilla essence to the bowl.

2. Add the vanilla essence to the bowl.

3. Lightly beat two eggs and add to the mixture.

4. Mix with a spoon and add the softened butter to the bowl. Beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes on a low speed to make sure that all the ingredients are properly blended together. Turn your electric mixer to high and beat the mixture for 3 minutes until it is pale and smooth (no lumps allowed).

5. Spoon mixture into the cupcake pans, fill them 2/3. I used the little cupcake tins to make mine as I like to have only bite size cakes.

6. Place the tray into the oven and cook them for 15 – 20 minutes at 180 °C / 350 °F. Cook them until they are just golden on top. To check if they are done, poke a skewer into the cupcake. When you pull it out there should be no mixture left on it.
7. Leave the cupcakes on a cooling rack for about 20 minutes before you add the frosting.
Note: This recipe made 20 small cupcakes.

How to Make Butter Cream Frosting

Ingredients

150g butter – softened
250g icing sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla
2 Tablespoon hot water
Few drops of food colouring
Cake icing decorations, sprinkles, icing roses

1. Place all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low for 2 minutes. Turn the electric mixer to high and beat for 2 more minutes until the frosting is the same consistency as butter.

2. Add a few drops of your food colour and mix in with a spoon.

3. Take an icing bag, attach the nozzle and spoon the frosting into the bag. Twist the end of the bag and hold it in your hand. Take a cupcake and starting in the middle, wind the icing around the cupcake until you have covered the top.

4. Place a few sprinkles and a little icing rose on top of your cupcake.

Enjoy!
Mia
xxx

PS At least one more very funky tutorial coming your way this week! See told you we were back!

PPS I have my crafty girl posse working on ideas for our November Craft Challenge and we will post the results within the next few days ok.

I am forever looking for different ways to use the glossy pages of old Vogue magazines to make into something new. I am so happy to share with you guys my new little creation, an advent calendar with a difference. Me and my little one spent some time last weekend creating and perfecting these little trees. They are easy to make, very inexpensive and so colourful and fun.

Materials
For these little trees I used the soft tree pattern from Little Birds Handmade and adapted it a little.
Glossy good quality magazines
Little pom-poms for the top of the tree
Scissors
Hot Glue Gun
Candy for the middle

Steps to Make Advent Calendar
1. Download pattern and then cut out twenty five little trees from pages of a magazine.
2. Cut out the circles for the bottom but adapt the pattern by adding four tabs onto the bottom to help glue it.
3. Glue together your first little tree using your hot glue gun. Place a line of glue down the side of the piece and then stick the other side of the tree onto the top of it. You will need to repeat this 25 times, of course. I found it a little fiddly at first but it got better and better.
4. When you have the tree forms made, glue a pom-pom onto the top.
5. Cut out numbers from magazines from 1 to 25 and glue them onto the front of the trees.
6. Place the candy inside the trees. Or place little inspirational quotes, parts of the Christmas story, little activities to do, little love letters. You are only limited by your imagination.
7. Take one of the bottoms and place a dob of glue on each of the four tabs you have cut out with it. Place the tree on top of the bottom, fold the tabs upwards and glue them to the outside of the tree. This gives them a really funky little edge. I tried putting the tabs on the outside and this way definitely looked a lot better. You will need to repeat this 25 times too.

Ta-Da! You now have the cutest advent calendar!

Handy Tips..

• Cut out all the pieces at the same time and glue the same pieces together at the same time. It will save you time, which is a precious commodity at this time of year.
• Cut out magazine pages in mostly reds and greens then some in purples or blue or yellows for a little variety.
• Please don’t let little children anywhere near a glue gun! They are dangerous. My little girl searched for all the numbers and cut them out for me. She also counted out the candy and put it in the trees. She loved doing it!

Enjoy!
Mia